Election 2016: Newport-Mesa Unified School District board: 3 incumbents, 3 challengers
It’s three-on-three in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board election as each incumbent in trustee areas 1, 3, and 6 faces one challenger.
The three incumbents say they are committed to building the district’s Signature Academies for subjects such as engineering and medical studies.
They also have often praised district staff for maintaining a balanced budget, enabling schools to have state-of-the-art technology and facilities.
For the past two years, the district’s revenue has exceeded its expenditures and its reserve level has exceeded requirements, officials said.
The three challengers, on the other hand, have declared their desire to look more closely at district funding in order to avoid wasting money, citing as an example the installation and subsequent removal of poles for a planned netting structure at Estancia High School’s baseball field.
They say they also aim to collaborate with teachers, parents and other community members in the decision-making process on issues such as choosing a math curriculum.
Here are the candidates by area, listed in the order they appear on the ballot:
AREA 1
Vicki Snell
Age: 66
Professional occupation: Newport-Mesa Unified School District trustee, Area 1
Education: Orange Coast College, Golden West College and UC Irvine; California School Boards Assn. Masters of Governance Certificate
Time lived in city of residence: 30 years in Costa Mesa
Previous public service: Costa Mesa Youth Sports Council; Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce Education Committee; Newport-Mesa Foundation advisor; PTA executive boards at Adams Elementary, TeWinkle Intermediate and Estancia High schools; school site councils; PTA Harbor Council Executive Board; Costa Mesa/Estancia Sister City Education Program; Measure A & F bond committees
Immediate family: Husband Richard, daughter Sarah and son Stephen
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. Continue to build on the current NMUSD Signature Academy class offerings in engineering, global studies, medical, digital arts, business, hospitality, culinary, performing arts and construction/manufacturing technology in order to prepare students for college and 21st century career opportunities.
2. Continue to be the parental and community voice for transparency and understanding of district goals, projects and educational programs, including an increased focus on student achievement in meeting reading and math elementary grade level milestones prior to middle and high school.
3. Continue to maintain a balanced budget, healthy reserves and AAA credit rating to ensure our district has a continuous level of funding for student learning, technology and state-of-the-art facilities and continue to support pension and insurance reform at the state and federal levels.
Michael Schwarzmann
Age: 53
Professional occupation: Advisor to companies in financial distress
Education: Bachelor of science in business administration from the Marshall School of Business at USC; master’s of business administration from the Anderson School at UCLA; juris doctorate from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Time lived in city of residence: 17 years in Costa Mesa
Previous public service: Superintendent’s Advisory Council; board member for AYSO Region 120; president and founder of the Davis Magnet School Education Foundation; co-chair of the Big Bucks for Ducks annual fundraiser; chief in YMCA Indian Princess father/daughter program
Immediate family: Wife Sandra, daughters Julia and Natalie
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. Focus on the classroom by providing the tools and training needed. Achieve districtwide increases in math and English language arts [on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress], as current levels (50.6% in math and 57.9% in ELA) are unacceptable.
2. Create a fiscally responsible district where money is spent wisely and sensibly following discussion and input. Increase detailed analysis of the budget and capital projects to avoid wasting precious funds, such as ... for netting at Estancia that had to be removed.
3. Build a culture of inclusiveness, trust and transparency where suggestions are welcomed and constituents heard.
AREA 3
Amy Peters
Age: 45
Professional occupation: Businesswoman
Education: Bachelor of arts in English literature, UC Irvine
Time lived in city of residence: 32 years in Newport Beach
Previous public service: Vice president of fundraising for the Kaiser Woodland Parent Faculty Organization; eight terms on school site councils at Woodland Elementary, Kaiser Elementary and Ensign Intermediate; Newport Harbor High School home tour hostess; founding board member of the STEM-focused Kaiser Woodland Schools Foundation
Immediate family: Husband Andy, daughters Kathryn and Elizabeth and son Nathan
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. Improve students’ access to STEM/STEAM education districtwide and prioritize funding for lab materials, art and music supplies and career technical education such as robotics, engineering and construction classes.
2. Develop a more comprehensive plan for technology with a built-in training program that includes curriculum development based on modern skills needed. Prioritize investigation of alternative options for upper grade levels to provide courses in high-level computing such as coding and programming.
3. Encourage clear communication that allows for the collaborative environment necessary to develop a plan for improving math and language arts outcomes ... which are now ... well below our similar neighbors in Irvine, Tustin and Los Alamitos. Currently, curriculum changes come from the top with little input from teachers and site administration, which has already resulted in four different math curriculums for my 12-year-old son in just seven years.
Martha Fluor
Age: 65
Professional occupation: Newport-Mesa Unified School District trustee, Area 3
Education: Bachelor of science from San Diego State University; two teaching credentials: California teaching credential for K-8 and special-ed credential
Time lived in district: 33 years
Previous public service: PBS SoCal (KOCE) Foundation board; CHOC Hospital Foundation board; Segerstrom Center for the Arts board of directors; Girl Scout Council of Orange County board of directors; treasurer and fund development for Junior League of Orange County; Assistance League of Newport-Mesa; Cheri Harris Dental Center chair; president for California School Boards Assn.; OC GOP Central Committee, 70th Assembly District; National School Boards Foundation board of directors; vice president of fundraising for Kaiser Parent Faculty Organization; PTA for Sonora and Davis schools
Immediate family: Husband Bob, five children
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. Every student has access to books, technology, equipment and resources needed and will receive the academic, social, emotional and behavior support they need to thrive in our schools and community.
2. Our high school graduates have the 21st century skills, coursework and experiential learning opportunities necessary to enter college/university or technical school or seek gainful employment.
3. Every student will leave third-grade reading at grade level.
AREA 6
Leslie Bubb
Age: 50
Professional occupation: Educator
Education: Bachelor of science in political science from Arizona State University; teaching credential from Concordia University
Time lived in city of residence: 27 years in Newport Beach
Previous public service: Board of directors for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation; school site council at Newport Harbor High School; Newport Harbor High sailing team advisory council
Immediate family: Husband John, son Harrington, daughter Madeline
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. Raise our low proficiency rates in math and English across the district by redirecting funding to resources in the classrooms and training for the teachers.
2. Support our schools by ensuring that our facilities are equipped to support our students in athletics, the arts and first-rate trade opportunities.
3. Change the culture in our district by creating a more transparent process in making decisions that includes collaborating with teachers, principals, students, parents and community members.
Dana Black
Age: 63
Professional occupation: Realtor; Newport-Mesa Unified School District trustee, Area 6
Education: California School Boards Assn. Masters of Governance Certificate
Time lived in district: 32 years
Previous public service: PTA’s Honorary Service Award from Mariners, Ensign and Newport Harbor High School; Golden Oak recipient for outstanding service to youth; Special Education Community Advisory Committee member and recognized for service to our special-needs students; elementary, middle and high school site council chair and College to Career Committee member; elected member of the California School Boards Assn.’s Delegate Assembly, Region 15
Immediate family: Parent of two Newport-Mesa graduates
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. Continue working with previous and current trustees, parents and community members.
2. Maintain competitive salaries and benefits to ensure that the most qualified professionals are hired.
3. Stay committed to the rigorous curriculum state standards and the district’s pathways, which include robotics, engineering, dual language and construction.
Twitter: @AlexandraChan10
